Introduction to Earthquake Engineering - 2019 entry

The module deals with:

• Origins of earthquakes and estimation of seismic hazard
• Mathematical manipulation for multi-degree of freedom systems under base excitation leading to response spectrum approach
• Response spectrum analysis procedure to determine structure response and base shears
• Mathematical basis of base isolators and tuned mass dampers
• Use of simulations for visualising and analysing behaviour of base-excited structures
• Fragility approach to seismic structural risk to structures

You will have been prepared during ECMM149 for the mathematical developments and during ECMM140 for treatment of single degree of freedom (SDOF) systems and use of the NDOF simulator. NDOF is a very powerful software tool, that will be given to you, allowing you to simulate a wide range of SDOF and MDOF load and response scenarios and link them with the mathematical bases.

The module aims to present a very strong mathematical and physical foundation for analysing and designing for seismic response of structures which will enable you to ‘see through’ formal code-based design approaches. This will be continuously reinforced using an in-house developed simulator used since 2000 for training students in structural dynamics. The module will provide a complete rationalisation of the earthquake engineering problem from the perspective of source (seismic hazard), path (structure dynamic behaviour) and performance (risk assessment).

This is a constituent module of one or more degree programmes which are accredited by a professional engineering institution under licence from the Engineering Council. The learning outcomes for this module have been mapped to the output standards required for an accredited programme, as listed in the current version of the Engineering Council’s ‘Accreditation of Higher Education Programmes’ document (AHEP-V3).

This module maps to learning outcomes: SM1fl, SM2fl, EA1fl, EP2fl, D1fl, ET5fl

A full list of the referenced outcomes is provided online: http://intranet.exeter.ac.uk/emps/subjects/engineering/accreditation/. The AHEP document can be viewed in full on the Engineering Council’s website, at http://www.engc.org.uk/.

On successful completion of this module you should be able to:

Module Specific Skills and Knowledge SM1fl, SM2fl

1. Assess seismic hazard according to earthquake types and metrics and site characteristics

2. Reduce complex structures to single degree of freedom systems and estimate response and base shear for base excitation described as deterministic function or response spectrum.

3. Carry out simple performance-based design.

Discipline Specific Skills and Knowledge EA1fl

4. Explain and simulate physical and mathematical basis of base-excited structure dynamics through extensive using NDOF software.                                                                                  

5 Conceptually understand base excitation and apply this understanding to general situations beyond design codes

Personal and Key Transferable / Employment Skills and Knowledge EP2fl, D1fl, ET5fl

6. Appreciate the physical meaning and limitations of design code approaches.

Seismology and seismic hazard

Single degree of freedom oscillators with base excitation

Multiple degree of freedom systems under base excitation

Fundamentals of base isolation and tuned mass dampers

Seismic risk and performance-based design

All referred/deferred assessments will be by written exam

Basic reading:

ELE: http://vle.exeter.ac.uk/

will be used to provide information about course structure and timing

Web based and Electronic Resources:

Other Resources:

NDOF simulator

Reading list for this module: